Book match shipping container



Feb. 6, 1940. J. CAGE 2,189,055

BOOK MATCH SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed April 24, 1957 mefa/ fbi/ pa oer 18 aa/lesl've ATTORNEY I INVENTOR Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOOK MATCH SHIPPING CONTAINER Application April 24, 1937, SerialNo. 138,703

2 Claims. (Cl. 206-29) This invention relates to shipping containers of a type adapted to transmit in the mails safety matches of the box or small book type.

Heretofore it has not been considered feasible I to ship safety matches, which are of course highly inflammable, in the mailsexcept when encased in strong metal containers. As a result, manufacturers of the small book type of safety matches which are used extensively for advertising purposes have found it impossible to mail separate books of safety matches to individuals, because of the prohibitive cost entailed in obtaining the metal shipping containers. Any shipping'container for matches which could be substituted for strong rigid containers to be acceptable to the postal authorities had to be sufiiciently strong so as not to be broken or torn easily and also had to be relatively fireproof so as to guard the readily inflammable matches.

Therefore it is an object of my invention to provide a paper or cardboard metal foil-lined shipping container of a type sufi'iciently strong to ship one or more books of safetymatches, having suflicient strength to adequately protect the matches contained therein and to be sufiiciently fireproof so that there is little risk of fire being transmitted from or to the matches being shipped.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a metal foil of sufficient thermal conductivity as a liner for such containers so that if the matches accidentally are ignited the metal foil lining of the container dissipates the heat generated by the match heads rapidly.

A further object of my invention is the provision of such a metal foil lining which has such a high thermal conductivity that when the container is subjected to heat from outside sources, in any one area upon the container, the foil lining is adapted to promptly conduct such heat 0 away from the particular area of the container subjected to the said heat.

A further object of my invention is to have the metal foil lining of the container coextensive with all internal surfaces thereof and to have such foil 45 lining preferably in one piece, this latter object being attained by forming the foil-lined match box shipping container from a one-piece blank of laminated paper and metal foil.

A further object of my invention is to provide 50 a metal foil-lined shipping container for matches which is designed to tightly accommodate the book or books of matches it is wished toship; the reason being that as little air as possible should be present in the shipping container.

5; A further object of my invention is the provision of foil-faced separators for shipping containers in which a number of book matches are shipped in order to attain the safety margin afforded thereby.

It will be recognized since lead, tin or zinc 5 metal foils have such a low thermal conductivity, namely .08, .15 and .26 respectively, calories per centimeter cube degree centigrade at room temperature, that they would not serve as satisfactory linings for fireproof shipping containers for 10 matches; also these metals do not possess the required tensile strength. I have found that aluminum foil, which has a thermal conductivity of .48 calorie per centimeter cube per degree centigrade .at room temperature, satisfactorily ll serves as a liner both because of its high thermal conductivity and also because it has a high tensile strength. Copper foil also serves well as a lining.

I have found that foils of less than 000%" thick do not possess the tensile strength nor do they so have sufiicient body to conduct the heat away from any specific area either within or without the shipping container.

The above and various other objects and advantages will be readily understood from the 5 following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing of preferred embodiments of the invention, in vwhich modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 3

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foil-lined shipping container for a plurality of books of matches;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; at

Fig. 3 is the blank from which the book is formed;

Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2 except that it illustrates a modified type of stock which is metal faced on both sides; 40

Fig. 5 is a modified embodiment of my invention and is a plan view of an open metal foil lined envelope having a box of matches of the giant or jumbo typ'e within the same shown in dot-dash lines; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section of a shipping container of the type shown in Fig. 1 showing books of matches packed therein with a 'foil faced separator between the two adjacent rows of matches.

In Figs. 1 to 3 a shipping container E0 of the usual box form is formed of cardboard preferably .015" thick (15 point), covered with aluminum foil lining i2 preferably at least .0004! thick, upon its inner surface M. In order that u the foil lining may be continuous without gaps and so that no portion of the container [0 is unprotected, the container will ordinarily be formed of a one-piece box blank it as indicated in Fig. 3. Such box blank has a bottom l7, and contiguous to said bottom the blank is provided with interlocking and cooperating end portions l8, end wall portion l9 and top fiap portions 20 contiguous with the end walls I9. These flaps 20 may be of such length as to overlap each other or abut the center as shown. The sides 2| of the container are contiguous with top flaps 23 and adapted to overlie or underlie the flaps 20 as desired. Therefore it will be noted that when the container is closed, all inner walls or surfaces of the container are fully and completely lined with a continuous lining of metal foil. It will be obvious that the shape of the container l0 should be such that when closed and packed with matches it closely encompasses the matches which are contained therein. In other words, tight packing with the resultant lessening of air, is important.

In Fig. 4 a fragmentary cross sectional view of sheet stock is shown which is suitable for forming the shipping container lined both on the inner and outer surfaces with aluminum foil,

resulting in the ready dispersion of heat from any specifically heated part of the box either inside or out, because of the thermal conductivity of the aluminum foil.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated an envelope shipping container 22 formed of preferably bond or manila paper stock 24 united by any suitable adhesive to a continuous lining 28 of aluminum foil of a thickness of at least .00035". Such envelope should preferably be so constructed as to have a bursting strength of not less than points (Mullen tester) thus assuring the necessary strength to avoid easy tearing. It will be apparent that this container is made from a one-piece blank and that the top flap 20 when folded down closes an envelope container which is fully or totally lined by one piece of metal foil upon its inner surface.

As indicated, the envelope has the usual strip of glue 25 upon the upper flap. In Fig. 5 in dot-dash line is illustrated a giant" or "jumbo book box of matches and it will be observed that this box of matches tightly fits the inner limits of the envelope whereby limited air only remains within the envelope shipping container.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a cross section of a box 30, generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 except that Fig. 6 is suitable for packing two rows of matches indicated as 32 with a separator sheet 34 having foil layers 36 on both its top and bottom surfaces and adapted to separate the two layers of matches, thus definitely fireproofing the two layers one from the other in the event of accidental ignition of a book or a row of books. This type of packing also provides for a minimum of air space inside the container.

It is to be understood that while the illustrated forms of the invention which I have described represent certain preferred embodiments, I do not wish to limit myself precisely to the details as shown, since it is obvious that the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined and claimed in the appended claims; it is obvious that various types and forms of papers and certain selected metals having the characteristics of aluminum or copper could be utilized in a similar manner.

I claim- I 1. In combination, a book of matches and a fire resistant shipping container therefor snugly encompassing the said book of matches, said container comprising a paper envelope which when closed has all inner surfaces lined with a continuous and uninterrupted lining of aluminum foil at least .00035" thick, whereby when any,

specific localized area of the envelope is subjected to heat the metal foil lining is adapted to rapidly conduct heat away from said specific area.

2. A fire resistant shipping container adapted for shipping a book of matches and to snugly encompass the same, said container comprising a paper envelope which when closed has all inner surfaces lined with a continuous and uninterrupted lining of aluminum foil at least .00035" thick, whereby when any specific localized area of the envelope is subjected to heat the metal foil lining is adapted to rapidly conduct heat away from the said specific area.

JAMES CAGE. 

